Opening Sequence – Shirley Bassey has to be the best singer for Bond. How can you not like her? This canary’s voice has both depth and refinement. The lyrics are equally bold as all they reference is gold. John Barry returns for more professional composing. The soundtrack was so popular that it went… gold (seriously). The opening visuals are amusing. Pictures of Bond are projected onto gilded females.
Girls – Galore. Pussy Galore. A name like that could evoke a gaffe from even the most unflappable of individuals. The British are known for their double-speak and innuendo but this is about as ostensible the sexual references can get. In the novel, Pussy is a lesbian, which explains why she surrounds herself with a bountiful bevy of buxom beauties. But in the movie she is an all American straight-shooter, Bond makes sure of that.
Villains – Auric Goldfinger, who is played by an overweight teutonic actor named Gert Frobe, is arguably the most famous of Bond villains. There are a number of reasons that make him stand out. For me, the biggest reason is the fact that he is so powerful but is not connected with SPECTRE. This is chronologically the first 007 movie that doesn’t mention the dastardly organization. Another reason is that the movie cleverly sows the seeds of sympathy for Goldfinger. We get to see him play golf, hatch a master plan and try to create a gold Rolls Royce. There was never a more intimate villain during the Sean Connery era. Underneath the temper tantrums and evilness, the audience sees a witty, light hearted man that is very likeable. The fact that his master plan does not include killing anyone is a testament to his amicability. There is little mystery to him. He doesn't want to kill anyone, he just wants gold! Can't a guy just have some friggin gold?
Vehicles and Gadgets – While visiting Q, James gets introduced to his first Aston Martin DB5. Of course all of the ordnance is added, including an ejector passenger seat. During one of the scenes in Switzerland there is a nice juxtaposition between the DB5 and a Ford Mustang. Me? The DB5 wins hands down… my pants.
Evil Lair – Goldfinger has a gold smelting plant and golf club in Switzerland and a horse stable near DC. At his horse stable a bunch of mobsters met to listen to his “Operation Grandslam”. One of them quips, “what is that map doing there?” I don’t know if he is being facetious or not. If he isn’t, he obviously hasn’t been in any evil lairs. Every abode that houses a miscreant has a huge map on the wall. They’re a main stay, a staple. Some evil gay interior decorator probably put them in.
Overall Stigma – This film sure is filled with superlatives. You’ve got Shirley Bassey on the microphone, the first appearance of the DB5, a girl named Pussy Galore, and a nice evil plot to destroy Fort Knox and inflate the price of gold. The most fabulous thing about this movie is that no other franchise, no other story-teller could have put this amount of sensationalism together with such aplomb. BRAVO!!!
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